Prof Heather Iles-Smith

School of Health & Society

Photo of Prof Heather Iles-Smith

Contact Details

Room 2.25 Mary Seacole Building
University of Salford

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Current positions

Professor

Biography

Heather holds a joint Chair of Nursing at the University of Salford and Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA). She is also Director of the NCA Centre for Clinical and care Research (CCR), which supports research capacity building for nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions. Within the School of Health and Society she is co-lead of the 'Research across the Life Course' research theme within the Centre for Applied Health and Care Research.

Her areas of Applied Health Research include long term conditions, psychological wellbeing and digital health, with expertise in mixed methods and qualitative research. She is peer reviewer for a number of Applied Health Research Journals.

Current active research includes the U-INconti study, funded by Health Education England, investigating prevalence and incidence of urinary incontinence (UI) in older women within secondary care and determining the association of older women's UI with mortality and morbidity. The study also explores the experiences of nurses delivering older women's UI care. A further study 'iWorkSmart' investigates the views of NHS staff related to using their own SMART devices at work for work purposes and their understanding of SMART device security, funded by the EPSRC.

Other recent research includes the NIHR/MRC funded COVID Nurse project; a randomised controlled trial investigating a nursing protocol designed by nurses, to support transactional nursing care for COVID-19 positive patients (not invasively ventilated). She was also a co-applicant on ‘AffecTech’ a £4M Marie Curie Innovation Technology grant, investigating biofeedback and development of devices to aid the treatment of anxiety and depression.

National leadership roles include Chair of the NIHR Nursing and Midwifery Incubator, which aims to increase the number of fellowship applications and awards made to nurses and midwives. She is also a Steering group member for, 1) the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Research Society, 2) Council of Deans for Health (CoD), Clinical Academic Roles Implementation Network (CARIN), 3) CoD Research Special Policy Group, and 4) Chief Nursing Officer for England Nursing Research Transformation Network member.

As an experienced PhD supervisor and mentor to HEE/NIHR ICA awardees Heather has develop significant research capacity and capability experience with the allied health professions. Developing research capacity building strategies and maximizing opportunities for increased engagement, research and clinical academic career pathways for the allied health professions, across the NCA and the University of Salford is an important area of Heathers role. Locally she is a member of the HEE (north) research strategy advisory group led by NHS R&D North West. She is also an NIHR mentor and sits on the NIHR Doctoral panel.

Areas of Research

Women's health, long term conditions, mental health and wellbeing

Teaching Qualifications and Recognitions Publications

Teaching

I contribute to the undergraduate Evidence‑Based Inquiry teaching and coordinate the involvement and contribution of NCA Research Delivery staff, ensuring students engage with real‑world clinical research and trial opportunities. This strengthens employability by exposing students to contemporary research roles and pathways.
My annual input to the Advanced Neonatal Practitioner (ANP) module, where I emphasise the importance of research as the fourth pillar of advanced practice and signpost newly qualified ANPs to external funding opportunities. This pedagogic approach has directly supported the progression and employability of graduates who continued to develop early research skills within their ACP role.
During my time as NIHR Nursing and Midwifery Incubator Chair I co-lead and significantly contributed to development of the NIHR masterclass, funded by the NIHR. The masterclass was created to support prospective nursing and midwifery NIHR fellowship applicants to develop a competitive fellowship application. The masterclass is now published on the NHS Futures platform and is accessible for all prospective NIHR applicants.

Qualifications and Recognitions

Qualifications

  • Nursing

    2006 - 2012

  • Master in Research by Research

    2000 - 2001

  • Registered General Nurse

    1983 - 1986

Publications

Publications

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